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Posted by 6zbeast on November 19, 2006, 10:40 pm
I was hoping somebody could help. I have installed a low voltage fixture in
my hallway and I can't seem to get it to work. The house is old, and the
wiring is always a surprise. Many light fixtures, including this one, have
voltage in the box even when the switch is turned off (learned this the hard
way with the first light I replaced in the house). Seems like the power runs
through the fixture down to the swich, instead of the reverse. I don' t know
if this would make a low voltage light not work. Maybe the transformer is
just defective. When I turn it on, I can barely hear the transformer making
a slight buzz sound, but the lights don't light up. I also thought it might
be the track, but I've inspected it and it seems okay. I've even tried
reverse wiring it, still no luck.
Any ideas?
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Posted by RBM on November 20, 2006, 7:08 am
With the switch "on", you have to test the terminals of the track to see if
you have 120 volts. If you do, the issue is with the transformer or fixture,
if not, it would be an open circuit, possibly at the switch
>I was hoping somebody could help. I have installed a low voltage fixture
>in
> my hallway and I can't seem to get it to work. The house is old, and the
> wiring is always a surprise. Many light fixtures, including this one,
> have
> voltage in the box even when the switch is turned off (learned this the
> hard
> way with the first light I replaced in the house). Seems like the power
> runs
> through the fixture down to the swich, instead of the reverse. I don' t
> know
> if this would make a low voltage light not work. Maybe the transformer is
> just defective. When I turn it on, I can barely hear the transformer
> making
> a slight buzz sound, but the lights don't light up. I also thought it
> might
> be the track, but I've inspected it and it seems okay. I've even tried
> reverse wiring it, still no luck.
>
> Any ideas?
>
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Posted by 6zbeast via HomeKB.com on November 20, 2006, 9:42 am
Thanks! I have a voltage meter, one of the analog ones. I will have to test
it. Now a dumb question. Regular voltage in a house is AC 120 right? Does
the low voltage transformer change it to DC? And it it DC 5, 10 or 20?
RBM wrote:
>With the switch "on", you have to test the terminals of the track to see if
>you have 120 volts. If you do, the issue is with the transformer or fixture,
>if not, it would be an open circuit, possibly at the switch
>
>>I was hoping somebody could help. I have installed a low voltage fixture
>>in
>[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>>
>> Any ideas?
--
Message posted via http://www.homekb.com
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Posted by RBM on November 20, 2006, 9:54 am
A transformer will change the voltage to either 12 or 24 volts depending
upon fixture. A rectifier would convert it from AC to DC, but I don't
believe any low voltage fixtures need DC
> Thanks! I have a voltage meter, one of the analog ones. I will have to
> test
> it. Now a dumb question. Regular voltage in a house is AC 120 right?
> Does
> the low voltage transformer change it to DC? And it it DC 5, 10 or 20?
>
> RBM wrote:
>>With the switch "on", you have to test the terminals of the track to see
>>if
>>you have 120 volts. If you do, the issue is with the transformer or
>>fixture,
>>if not, it would be an open circuit, possibly at the switch
>>
>>>I was hoping somebody could help. I have installed a low voltage fixture
>>>in
>>[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>>>
>>> Any ideas?
>
> --
> Message posted via http://www.homekb.com
>
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Posted by Mark Lloyd on November 20, 2006, 1:29 pm
On Mon, 20 Nov 2006 14:42:55 GMT, "6zbeast via HomeKB.com"
>Thanks! I have a voltage meter, one of the analog ones. I will have to test
>it. Now a dumb question. Regular voltage in a house is AC 120 right?
I've heard people say 110, 115, 117, 118, 120, and 125. The actual
voltage should be in that range. I measure almost exactly 120VAC here.
Older people are more likely to say 110.
> Does
>the low voltage transformer change it to DC?
>
A transformer requires AC, and can change the voltage. It does not
convert it to DC. That requires additional circuitry. That is unlikely
to be there, since most lights (other than LEDs) will work with AC.
>And it it DC 5, 10 or 20?
12VAC seems common, but I haven't looked at that many. The LV system I
have is 12VAC. Some may use 24VAC.
>RBM wrote:
>>With the switch "on", you have to test the terminals of the track to see if
>>you have 120 volts. If you do, the issue is with the transformer or fixture,
>>if not, it would be an open circuit, possibly at the switch
>>
>>>I was hoping somebody could help. I have installed a low voltage fixture
>>>in
>>[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>>>
>>> Any ideas?
--
35 days until the winter solstice celebration
Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.laughingsquid.com
"I have found Christian dogma unintelligable. Early
in life I absented myself from Christian assemblies."
-- Benjamin Franklin
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